After reading the blogs from my teammates, I’ve decided to jot down some of my observations as well. I’ve come along way (literally and figuratively) since this all started. My first run is easy to remember. It was Thanksgiving Day. I remember thinking that holidays are for taking it easy, and here I am doing this. It didn’t go well. I went out way too fast, and had to resort to walking for part of it, even though I was only going for about 2 ½ miles. It didn’t help that my new thermal shirt was too small…I couldn’t get my breath because it was too tight on my chest. At least that was part of the reason. The main reason was that I was just plain out of shape.
Running with my sister, Susie, has helped a lot, and I’ve learned a lot from her. I’m sure that it would have taken me much longer to figure out what I’m doing without her advice and help. Getting a “real” pair of running shoes, decent socks, and other gear (including a thermal shirt that fits) has made a huge difference since day one.Being a novice runner can be a little humbling. On a couple of occasions, I’ve gone for runs with my sister and some of her neighborhood running friends. Simply put, I’m not up to their pace yet (if ever), and I’ve been dropped like a ton of bricks on more than one occasion. And then there was the time that I was hitting a wall on the return leg of a run, only to be casually passed by a guy going much faster. The sad part is that the guy was at least 60! I’d like to think that he was just going for a short 1 mile sprint, but chances are, he was out for a 10 miler!
I’ve learned that the important thing is to put in the miles. My endurance and my speed has improved a lot since November, and it didn’t happen overnight. Endurance is the main thing that I’m focused on, since we are training for a marathon. And I’m still trying to figure out what a good pace for the marathon would be.
Saturday runs with my teammates has been a big boost for me. Call it moral support (or maybe misery loves company) or whatever, but the Saturday runs have only seemed half as long as they really are. I’m looking forward to ratcheting up the distance with the team, and I know that I wouldn’t be nearly so enthusiastic about it if I were attempting this by myself. Go team!
Great first post man. Keep it up and I’ll see ya out there on the road.
Blows my mind man! I’m considered quite the she-ra at work when I WALK the mile and a half to and from – the distances you are getting on these runs are amazing. I’m excited for you – keep up the hard work and (in honor of MLK today) keep your eyes on the prize: endurance and making it to the big day.
Someone on one of the blogs mentioned music – Kelly had said once that rock songs can be too fast; you accidentally pick up the pace. Try R&B, Maroon Five type stuff, poppy Jack Johnson, Ben Harper. Though with that said, she had on her run playlist the Who’s Baba O’Reilly and Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road, which are about as rock n roll as it gets!
Have fun!
Go team!
Hey Bobby,
Where do I begin? I am absolutely shocked that you have finally discovered the joys of running! After all, I do recall not very long ago being told I was INSANE to log the distances that I have over the years. RUNNING HAS BEEN MY SAVING GRACE! With that said, I am 100% behind(in front of you, Ha!)with your efforts to acheive this incredible goal. Remember you can achieve great things with determination and perserverance! Love you! Go, Bobby, Go!!